Mary Ruth Houston's problem-solving approach helps clients stay focused on their core business. Her legal ability is based on over 20 years of litigation experience in handling complex disputes. She uses her understanding of business issues outside of the courtroom to counsel companies on how to avoid litigation, minimize its effects or, when litigation is required, handle it efficiently and effectively. As a partner in the Litigation Department and a member of Orlando's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, Ms. Houston focuses on both business and employment-related disputes. She is named in Best Lawyers in America Guide and Florida Super Lawyers in the area of Labor and Employment.
Experience
Ms. Houston counsel companies throughout Central Florida on legal challenges that may permanently affect their businesses. Corporations of all sizes turn to Ms. Houston for her experience in pretrial, trial (jury and non-jury) and appellate work.
Ms. Houston defends employers and management in a broad range of labor and employment issues. These involve employee discharge and discrimination cases, including age, sex, race, national origin, religion and disability claims, as well as cases involving restrictive covenants and wage-hour matters. She also has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting complex employment and severance agreements. As a lawyer with wide knowledge of labor and employment law, Ms. Houston teaches the subject in the Master of Human Resources Program at Rollins College. She also speaks frequently at seminars on employment related matters and conducts training on employment issues for businesses.
Ms. Houston's litigation practice also encompasses a wide variety of commercial, contract, consumer finance, creditors' rights and business tort disputes.
Background
Before joining Shutts & Bowen, Ms. Houston was a litigation associate at a national law firm in New York City, where she worked on a wide variety of litigation matters. She is a 1986 graduate of Harvard Law School.
Education
- Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1986
- Georgetown University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1983
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- New York Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
